There are some things that we cannot leave the house without. Maybe it's your keys, your wallet, your bag, your phone? Well, for smokers, it's all of these things and a lighter.
There's nothing more frustrating than leaving the house to realize that you've forgotten your lighter, or it doesn't work!
Therefore, you need to make sure you've got yourself a lighter you know you won't forget, a lighter that does well in windy conditions, and a lighter that won't break down on you too easily.
But where do you start? What exactly makes a good lighter?
We've compiled a list of the best lighters available today, we tell you their pros and cons, and we've also given you a buyers' guide with some frequently asked questions to give you the most well-rounded view for when you're in the market for a new lighter.
So, take a seat and light up as we explore the best lighters!
OUR TOP PICK
This lighter holds up to almost all the areas that a smoker needs to ensure. The Arc lighter works with plasma as opposed to a flame lighter, and is designed to be an essential tool for campers.
Due to its solid design, it's waterproof and windproof. This is perfect for smokers who live in an area where the weather changes a lot of the time.
It has a built-in torchlight which makes life so much easier, particularly when you've dropped your papers on the floor in the dark and don't want to switch the room lights on.
Because it's a flameless lighter, it uses rechargeable lithium-ion batteries so you can recharge it overnight and never be without a lighter.
Speaking of never being without it, it comes with 2 lanyards which you can wear around your neck or attach it to your trousers or bag.
This design also means it's much more friendly to the environment and safer to use around others, due to it not needing butane or any other fuel for that matter.
This lighter is perfect for campers of course because it acts as an emergency fire starter or source of light. It also has an attached whistle!
The best way to describe this lighter? It's the most versatile and helpful lighter on the market today.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Windproof
- Built in light
- Rechargeable
- Flameless
- No need to refill
- Better for the environment
- Detachable lanyards
- Built in whistle
Cons
- There are cheaper lighters on the market
- Some prefer flame lighters
- The design isn't as visually pleasing as other lighters
EDITORS CHOICE
Is there anyone else more recognizable when it comes to smoking and smoking equipment than Bob Marley? Let's face it, the man is a legend of music and iconic when it comes to smoking gear.
Why not honor the music star with getting your lighter with him on it?
Bic have a special edition range for their lighters and the Bob Marley edition has to be among the most popular. This is a set of 8 different Bic lighters, all with the artist on them.
Their beautiful design with the Jamaican star on it is something to behold.
Some highly recognizable imagery and colors, you'd find it difficult to find other lighters that look so good.
Bic has long made disposable lighters that are popular among smokers and there's good reason for that.
They're affordable, use butane gas and can be used in even the windiest conditions.
Due to Bic's strict quality checks, these lighters are guaranteed to be child-proof, so you can rest easy if you've accidentally left your lighter somewhere.
What's more, they fit easily in your pocket and due to their inexpensive nature, you can always buy more if you've lost it!
Pros
- Bob Marley special edition with unique designs
- Pack of 8 in a box
- Childproof
- Quality assured
- Inexpensive
- Fits easily in your pocket
Cons
- As a butane lighter, it isn't as good for the environment as plasma
- Disposable so they cannot be refilled
BEST VALUE
Well, RONXS have come up with one of the greatest lighters we have ever seen.
This is a beautifully looking butane lighter with all the amenities that you'd expect with traditional lighters.
Perfect for all weather conditions, this lighter has a stunning outside metal shell and shiny finish. It's windproof, which is worth its weight in gold and can be used for all things.
Need to light up the grill? No problem. Need to light a cigar? No problem.
It can work to light anything you might smoke or want lit, and it fits easily into your pocket.
It makes an ideal gift for any occasion and due to its smart design, the flames are thin and point direct – allowing for a precise area of your cigarette, cigar, joint, pipe or bong to be lit.
It uses butane gas and can easily be refilled, so you can be sure you've got some longevity with this lighter!
Pros
- Refillable
- Precise flame
- Windproof
- Fits in your pocket
- Triple jet flame
- Versatile use
Cons
- Butane gas is not as friendly to the environment
- Does not have a torch
RUNNER UP
When it comes to the world of lighters, you'll be hard-pressed to find a company more well known and popular than Zippo.
For years, they've designed and created some of the most popular looking and individualized lighters.
We've seen their use in the movies and their smell after ignition is glorious. Due to their shell, most Zippos can be personalized with engravings, and you can find your choice of colors/patterns.
Zippo is at the heart of America and their products come with a guarantee that if they don't work, you'll get a replacement or your money back.
They're strong, durable, windproof, easy to use, refillable, made with a strong metal and all of them simply look amazing.
Even with all of this, they're still pretty inexpensive. Always ensure you're buying a real Zippo too by checking the bottom stamp.
Once you've got your chosen Zippo, there's very little need to buy a new lighter ever again.
Lighter fluid and new wicks are pretty cheap to source and buy, so you'll fall in love with your new forever lighter!
Pros
- High quality
- Made in Philadelphia
- Strong, durable metal
- Range of designs
- Established company
- Refillable
- Windproof
- Easy to use
- Fits in your pocket
Cons
- Replacement wicks are sometimes difficult to fit
- No way of knowing when you're low on fluid until it's too late
- So many Zippo lighters to pick from!
RUNNER UP
If your goal is to find the coolest looking lighter in the world – you'd certainly be taking a look at this one.
It has a gorgeous black dragon image traveling down the lighter with a luxury and stylish copper color. This design continues all over the lighter, not just on one side.
This makes a difference to some people, because our previous contender in our list, Zippo, do not often have double-sided designs, if at all.
This lighter has a small cap and is relatively thin, allowing you to place it easily in your pocket. It works using plasma, so no fuel is required. Better for the environment, better for you.
You get around one and a half hours worth of use out of its battery and due to its built in LED light, you know when your lighter is charged or running low.
When the plasma is sparked, it makes a cool purple color – epic for dark lighting!
Once again, due to being a plasma lighter, it's windproof and perfect for all lighting needs including camping or smoking.
Pros
- Flameless
- Rechargeable
- Amazing and unique design
- LED light tells you if the battery is charged or low
- Windproof
- Better for the environment than butane lighters
Cons
- Battery life isn't as long as most other flame lighters or electric lighters
- The design might not appeal to everyone
Buyer's Guide
When you're in the market for a brand-new lighter, there are more things to think about than some previously considered.
Below, we're going to go through some of the facets you need to weigh up when buying a lighter.
Flame Vs Flameless
The first thing that people in the market for a lighter need to consider is whether their lighter needs a flame.
There are pros and cons for both. Primarily, flameless lighters are more environmentally friendly than butane or other gas lighters.
However, they can often break much more easily and their battery life does not always last too long.
Additionally, if you planned to go away for a weekend, maybe camping for example – you would have nowhere to charge them.
This is where the flame lighters have their advantages. You know that you're going to have a flame if you have a full lighter when you set out. The problem arises when it comes to things like Zippo lighters.
Although they are one of the best on the market in terms of their design and their overall quality, you do not know how much fluid is left in the lighter.
This is not so much of a concern with a lot of disposable lighters or flameless lighters.
The point here is, you'll need to weigh up whether you'd prefer to have electric lighters in the house (and indeed your pocket) or opt for the classic flame. Either way, it's gotta be better than matches, right?
Windproof Lighters: Does This Matter?
When you're outside, you want to be sure that you're getting a reliable source of a flame. If you live in a particularly windy area, this is perhaps even more critical.
Sometimes, lighters say that they are windproof, but they are not. Almost all flameless lighters like plasma will cope in strong winds, but jet lighters that claim to be windproof might be for the most part, but in extreme conditions will fail.
If you're planning to just keep a lighter at home, the windproof element will not matter so much. Really, it's just a case of your habits.
Ideally, you'd like to have a primary lighter and maybe a secondary back-up lighter, but sometimes this is not that simple.
Another thing to note here is the fuel element. Jet lighters often use much more fuel per ignition when they are windproof, in order to generate enough heat and flame ready for use.
This is not usually the case with battery lighters. If they have an hour's worth of energy – that's all they have for that use.
Refillable Vs Disposable
The other thing you'll need to think about is whether you're bothered too much about having a refillable lighter or not.
You'd think that refillable lighters always have more benefits over disposables, but that's not always the case.
Some disposable lighters, like Bic for example, have long been known as being high quality and inexpensive – so many smokers choose to always purchase those lighters rather than saving a few bucks with a refillable lighter.
The thing is, refillable lighters are more environmentally friendly than disposable lighters, and they're very much a part of you. A lighter that you use for years becomes a part of your identity in a way, similar to having a car for decades.
Disposable lighters do not necessarily need to be “disposed” of though. Using one of our choices on our list with Bob Marley's special edition set, they come in a box – so after they have been used to the end, you could put them back into the box and keep them ornamental.
Pocket Sized
Although some people prefer larger items, so they do not lose them, lighters very rarely are better if they're bigger, besides having a larger fuel capacity or battery life.
Having a lighter fit easily into your pocket or bag is essential because you'd prefer that they were discretely out of the way, and you can simply pull them out as and when required.
Design
If you're planning to have a lighter for a number of years, you'll certainly need to consider its appearance. Some lighters on this list have unique designs, patterns and imagery.
Zippos are well known for having almost any design that you can think of and the ability to be engraved. However, their designs do not go on both sides, whereas the copper dragon lighter does.
With these designs, you also have to be mindful of the materials because some materials are susceptible to rusting and looking awful after a number of years.
Some better lighters for their use do not always have a choice of design, so you'll need to consider if you want the look or the high quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've also covered a few of your most frequently asked questions below:
Is There A Better Fuel To Use With Flame Lighters?
Good question. None of the fuels like butane are ideal when it comes to the environment, but it's important to note the aroma and taste differences if you use a petrol lighter when smoking.
Cigar smokers will know it's crucial not to use a lighter directly onto the cigar, and the same applies for anything you're smoking. Petrol aroma and taste will affect the overall smoking experience.
Additionally, petrol is usually more costly than butane.
Do The Extras Actually Matter?
When it comes to extras on lighters like torches, they're always welcome to be there – but they're not essential for most smokers.
Sometimes, these extras impact the overall aesthetic of the lighter and make them look worse than they would have done.
The one extra that is much better than them all is for the plasma lighters. The LED light that informs you whether the lighter is filled is ideal.
That is probably the only extra that matters really, but if you're prone to going outdoors at night and needing a lighter – consider the torches too!
Are These Lighters Dangerous To Me Or My Family?
Some people worry that an electric, rechargeable lighter can explode in their home due to their lithium-ion batteries, but the chances of this happening are the same as your TV remote or cell phone exploding!
Additionally, there have been worries that children can get hold of lighters. Some of these lighters are childproof, meaning they will find it almost impossible to light a flame anyway.
To be absolutely sure, you could choose to look for one of the lighters that comes with lanyards.
These lanyards will mean your lighter is almost always around your neck or your trousers and your children cannot touch it.
Final Thoughts
It can be a headache to know what to look for when you're in the market for a new lighter. Hopefully, this guide has cleared a couple of things up for you. Happy shopping!
If you enjoyed this article, then you might like to read our post on the 'Best Nectar Collector'.
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